Automatic window-shade stop and release.



No. 718,738. PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.- H. A. STARR.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW SHADE STOP-AND RELEASE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1902.

1T0 MODEL.

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Unrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HILLYARD A. STARR, OF EAST CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW/SHADE STOP AND RELEASE.

SPECIFTGATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 718,738, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed June 2,1902.

To a, whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HILLYARD A. STARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Window-Shade Stops and Releases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an automatic window-shade stop and release and is designed for use in connection with ordinary springrollers of that kind employing a ratchet and dogs for automatically locking the shaderoller in adjusted position. In window-shades of this character as heretofore constructed the roller frequently becomes locked when the shade is pulled down to its lowest position, this action being due to the fact that when the shade is so adjusted one of the dogs on the roller moves into engagement with the ratchet on the shaft and locks the roller against rotation, so that the roller cannot be further turned by pulling down on the curtain to release the pawl in order to permit said roller to turn in the reverse direction to wind up the curtain. Notwithstanding this fact it is often sought to release the roller by pulling upon or jerking the curtain, whichin the majority of cases not only fails in securing the intended result, but causes the shade to be torn or stripped from the roller.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means for overcoming this objection and for automatically releasing the engaging dog when the shade is thus pulled or jerked, thereby releasing the roller, so as to allow the shade to wind up and obviating all liability of the shade being detached from the roller.

With the above and other objects in view,

' which will readily appear as the nature of the Serial No. 109,951. (No model.)

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the supporting-band. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the automatic shade-holder and clutch-releaser.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a windowshade roller of ordinary construction, and 2 its spring-actuated shaft carrying the ratchethead 3, engaged by the dogs 4 and 5 on the roller, whereby the latter is locked in adjusted position.

6 represents the window shade or curtain, secured in any approved manner to the roller.

Fig. 1 represents the shade as having been drawn down to'its lowest position in use, and A represents the usual point of attachment of the shade when the parts are in this position, from which it will be seen that the dog 5 is in engagement with the ratchet, thuslocking the roller against movement, whereby a pull or jerk on the shade in an attempt to release the roller will not only fail of its purpose, but will be liable to result in stripping the shade from the roller. When the shade is thus locked, it can only be released by detaching the roller from its brackets, winding up the curtain thereon a sufficient distance to secure the release of the dog 5 when the curtain is again drawn down, and replacing the roller, whereupon by pulling down on the curtain the roller may be readily manipulated to wind up the shade. This involves considerable annoyance, which the present invention is designed to overcome.

In carrying my invention into practice I attach'the upper edge of the shade 6 to the roller at the point A, which allows it to unwind to a further extent, and provide a device which not only holds the shade in proper position, but also effects the release of the dog 5 when the shade is drawn or pulled upon when in the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby allowing the shade to wind up. This device consists of a rod 7, which forms a presser-bar to hold the shade against the roller, said rod having a right-angularly bent arm 8 of segmental form to extend around the outer half of the roller on one side of its vertical center. The inner or free end of this bent arm has a lateral pivot portion 9, terminating in a trip or finger piece 10, extending down at the clutch end of the roller in juxtaposition to the clutch-head 3. The portion 9 is pivotally connected to the roller, preferably when the device is mounted upon rollers already in use, by mounting the same upon a split band or ring 11, clamped about the roller. This ring has lateral ears 12, one of which cooperates with a plate 13 to form the bearing for said portion 9. This plate is secured to the ears by a bolt 14 and nut 15, which also draw the ears together to clamp the band in place. The end cap or ferrule of the roller may, however, be formed with a suitable bearing for the presser-bar and trip. Thearm S of course bears upon the cap or ferrule beyond the side edge of the shade and forms the connection between the bar 7 and trip, said bar acting in the nature of a swing operating device and gravity-retractor for the trip.

In operation it will be seen that when the parts are arranged as in Fig. 1 and the shade is pulled or drawn upon the presser-bar'7 will be swung outward byithe shade and the roller will be turned to a further degree, as the trip 10 will be moved by the action of the bar in contact with and force the dog 5 out of engagement with the ratchet-head 3, leaving the roller free to be turned by the spring-shaft to wind up the shade. This action is fully permitted, as by attaching the shade at the point A instead of at the point A the shade may unwind to a further degree without in any way straining the fastenings and without liability of tearing or detaching the shade, and when so attached the shade is adapted to swing the trip-operating device. As the trip device swings with the roller it only comes into engagement with the dog 5 at the time and point indicated, so that normallyit does not interfere with the action of any of the parts. Upon the release of the curtain the bar 7 again swings against the roller and retracts the trip, leaving the dogs free to again engage the ratchet-head.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought that the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my improved window-shade stop and release will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a spring-actuated shade-roller, its shaft, and clutch mechanism for looking it to the shaft, of a trip pivotally mounted upon the roller for automatically releasing said clutch mechanism at a predetermined point in the unwinding of the shade, and a presser-bar cooperating with the trip to operate and retract the same and press the curtain against the roller, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a spring-actuated shade-roller, its shaft, and clutch mechanism for locking the roller to the shaft, of a shade secured to the roller at a point permitting it to have afu'rther unwinding movement when drawn down to its normal lowest position, a pivotally-mounted trip for automatically releasing said clutch mechanism upon such further unwinding movement of the shade, and a swinging presser-bar connected with the trip and swung by the pull of the shade to operate said trip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.HILLYARD A. STARR.

YVitnesses:

J. T. HALEY, GEO. GORDENHIN. 

